essie mae coleman arrington
1931-2006
Life Story
A Life Rooted in Family, Faith, and the Altare Tradition
Early Life and Family Heritage
Essie Mae Coleman was born in March 1931 in Newton County, Mississippi, to Joe Coleman (1895–1965) and Ardell Evans Coleman (1897–1969). She was raised in the historic Altare Community along Highway 15 south, a place where faith, family, and fellowship formed the foundation of daily life.
Growing up in a rural household, Essie quickly learned the value of hard work and shared responsibility. As a young girl, she assisted her family on the farm, working approximately 22 hours each week as a farm helper. These formative years shaped her character, instilling in her resilience, humility, and a deep appreciation for the land that sustained her family and community.
Marriage, Migration, and Family Life
Sometime after 1950, Essie joined in marriage with Wardell Arrington (1929–2000), a union built on love, partnership, and mutual devotion. Together, they sought opportunity beyond Mississippi, moving to Flint, Michigan in 1956, where they worked hard and established themselves among other families migrating north during that era.
Despite building new lives in Michigan, the Arringtons’ connection to home remained strong. Eventually, they returned to Newton County, choosing once again the quiet rhythms and familiar comforts of the Altare countryside — the same land that had shaped Essie’s earliest years.
From their marriage came children who continued the Arrington legacy:
- Odell Arrington (1952–?)
- Margie Arrington
- Shirley Arrington
Their home was filled with love, laughter, and the memories of a life that bridged two worlds — rural Mississippi roots and northern industrial promise.
Passing and Legacy
Essie Mae passed away peacefully on October 21, 2006, at the age of 75. She was laid to rest at the Altare Missionary Baptist Church graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi, joining generations of loved ones who rest beneath the pines and soil of the community she cherished.
Her headstone honors her role as both “Mother” and “Baby Sister,” a tribute that reflects the love, tenderness, and irreplaceable presence she held within her family circle.
Essie leaves behind a legacy of quiet strength, gentle spirit, and unwavering devotion to her roots. Her life — shaped by faith, family, and the enduring story of Altare — continues to live on through her children, extended family, and all who were touched by her grace.
Sidebar: The Coleman–Evans–Arrington Family Line
The life of Essie Mae Coleman Arrington beautifully bridges three of the most enduring family legacies of the Altare community — the Coleman, Evans, and Arrington lines — each deeply rooted in the soil and spirit of Newton County, Mississippi.
Her father, Joe Coleman (1895–1965), was a hardworking farmer whose livelihood depended on the rhythms of the land, while her mother, Ardell Evans Coleman (1897–1969), descended from the Evans family of Altare — a family whose members helped shape the civic and spiritual life of the community through church leadership, education, and land ownership. Together, Joe and Ardell raised their children along Highway 15 south, where family farms, small churches, and kinship networks bound the community together through every season.
When Essie Mae married Wardell Arrington (1929–2000), she united another historic Altare bloodline. The Arringtons were known for their deep church ties, their work ethic, and their multi-generational influence in both Newton County and the Great Migration cities where many family members later settled — including Flint, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois. Like many of their generation, Essie and Wardell carried Altare’s values northward, keeping its spirit alive wherever they lived.
Returning home later in life, the couple reaffirmed their connection to Altare’s red clay earth and to Altare Missionary Baptist Church, the same congregation where so many of their ancestors had worshiped, served, and been laid to rest.
Today, through descendants such as Odell, Margie, and Shirley Arrington, the blended Coleman–Evans–Arrington family continues to represent the enduring story of faith, labor, and family resilience that defines Altare’s legacy.
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
- The Newton Record, Mrs. Minnie Lee Arrington Obituary, Wed, Jun 20, 1984 ·Page 3
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